Solomon h



(No Model.)

S H. GODMAN.

BRIDGE.

No. 267,189. Patenied Nov. 7, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMON H. GODMAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,189, dated November '7, 1882.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLOMON H. GODMAN, of the city of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts whereby combined wood and iron bridges shall be rendered more simple and less expensive, while maintaining their stren gth and efficiency, as will be hereinafter more specifically set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bridge embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of one of the top chords, illustrating the splice-joint which I employ when the length of the bridge requires that the chord should be spliced; Fig. 3, a side elevation, on a still larger scale, of one of the center struts and surrounding parts; Fig. 4,a top plan thereof; Fig. 5, a side view of one of the end struts as seen from the dotted line 2 z in Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a horizontal section thereof, looking downwardly from the dotted lineyy; Fig. 7, a view of the strut, 850., shown in Fig. 3, as seen from the dotted line at w,- and Fig. 8, a horizontal sectional view of the same, looking downwardly from the dotted line to to.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the top chords of the bridge; B, the end posts; 0, the end struts; I), the center struts; E, the lower chords; F, the suspending-rods; G, the diagonal truss-rods, and H the floor-beams.

The chords A are constructed of two or more timbers, as shown, and as is usual. The splice is formed by inserting a piece, A, between each of the several members and the one next it of the form shown in Fig. 2. The central portion of this block is the thickest, and fits into gains out in the sides of the members of the chord, while the thinner ends extend out into the space ordinarily left between such members, and is fastened by several bolts, to, which pass through said members and said splice-piece, all as shown in Fig. 2. The several members are secured together at intervals (where not spliced) by other bolts, a, which pass through them and through packingblocks M, which are placed between them to hold them the proper distance apart.

The end posts, 13, lower chords, E, and diagonal truss-rods, G, are of a common form, and need no special description.

The end struts, O are of cast-iron, and are formed with one vertical and one slanting member, which are connected by a plate at the top and bottom. The slanting member acts as a brace to prevent lateral motion in the tops of the bridge-trusses. The plates atthe top and bottom extend out into flanges, and the flanges are bolted to the chords A and floor-beams H, respectively, by the bolts 0 and 0 The center struts, D, are also of cast-iron, and are preferably in the general form of I-beatns. They are swelled out at the bottom with an open space in the swelled part, in which the several rods and chords E G are secured by the bolts d. Flanges are formed on these struts at the top and bottom, by means of which and the bolts (1' d said struts are secured to the-top chords and floor-beams, respectively.

The supporting-rods F pass between the members of the struts G and alongside the webs of the struts D from the top of the chords A to the bottom of the floor-beams H, where they are secured in strain by nuts upon each end, as shown. Plates f, at the top, serve to distribute the strain of these bolts over all the members of the chords A, and also to connect them to the bolts 0 and d, by which the struts are secured to the chords.

The construction shown and above described entirely avoids all forging in the construction of the bridge otherthan bolt-work. The struts and other cast-metal parts are cast ready for use, all bolt-holes being easily cored out. As arranged, only a crushing strain comes upon the cast-metal parts and a carrying strain upon the wrought-metal parts.

Having thus fully described my said invention, whatIclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a bridge, of the upper chords, the end posts, the cast-iron struts O and D, the latter of which are swelled and open at the bottom to admit the lower chords and truss-rods, said lower chords and. trussrods, sustaining rods F, which pass from the top of the upper chord to the lower side of the 5 floor-beams, and said floor-beams, when all are constructed and operate substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the other parts of a bridge, of the struts D, constructed as shown, to and secured by means of bolts and flanges to the upper chords and floor-beams, and the sus pensory rods F F, with platesf, all substantially as shown and specified.

3. The combination, with the members of. the chords A, of the splice-piece A, having its I5 center of a sufficient thickness to fit into gains in said members, and its ends thin enough to 

